Updated

06/03/2015 - 5:00pm

The focus on Qatar's abuse of its migrants has been among the fallout from FIFA bribery scandal and the soccer body's improbable decision to award the tiny nation the World Cup in 2022. Yet inaccuracies in reporting give the government cover to attack errors instead of the issue — and frustrate change, say several young Qataris.

Amnesty International says Qatar is failing to act fast enough to improve conditions for migrant workers building its World Cup soccer stadiums. But critics says it's only when sponsors like Coca-Cola and VISA speak up that soccer's governing body, FIFA, pays attention.

A BBC team that traveled to Qatar at the government's invitation quickly found out how limited their welcome was: After attempting to visit workers and document their living conditions, the crew was thrown in jail. One of the journalist thinks a wider crackdown is yet to come.

The release of Al Jazeera journalist Peter Greste from an Egyptian jail may have been meant to deflect criticism on the Egyptian government. But there's no getting around the Sisi regime's poor record on human rights and the law.

For more than a year, journalists and rights advocates around the world have campaigned on behalf of three Al Jazeera journalists behind bars in Egypt. Today, a court in Cairo ordered a new trial for the three men. But they are not being released.

The rise of ISIS and their brutal acts of terror have been a horrifying development in the past year. And yet within in the Middle Eastern artistic community, an unlikely group of voices has begun to stand up to try and combat’s the group’s message of fear and intolerance: comedians.

As many as 1,000 foreign workers have been killed on construction sites in Qatar since it was awarded the 2022 World Cup four years ago. Poor pay, inhumane conditions, malnutrition and death — all are part of life for the men trying to build the new stadiums and hotels, while supporting their families.

The Turkish military has a small military base in Qatar, its first base in the Middle East region. As Qatar's isolation grows, Turkey is considering deploying more troops to the base in what seems to be a public show of support.

The violent protests in Syria have claimed at least 5,000 lives, according to United Nations estimates. So far, efforts to end the violence have been completely unsuccessful and President Bashar al-Assad on Monday rejected a call to step down.

When Qatar bid for the 2022 World Cup, it said it could air condition the stadiums with solar power to beat the dangerous summer heat. But that's not looking likely now, so a FIFA official says the summer tournament will be moved.

For more than a year, journalists and rights advocates around the world have campaigned on behalf of three Al Jazeera journalists behind bars in Egypt. Today, a court in Cairo ordered a new trial for the three men. But they are not being released.

Nine children and three women were among 16 Afghan civilians killed Sunday morning in Kandahar. A U.S. Army soldier is accused of the killing, but no motive had been revealed.. The Afghan Taliban has vowed revenge and it is likely the incident will harm efforts to bring peace between the United States and the Taliban.

Qatar has been blasted for its treatment of its laborers — and a new report paints an unpleasant picture of what those jobs can be like. Plus Switzerland considers a big increase to its minimum wage and a Beijing student sees smog as a way to put smiles on people's faces.